Omar Efraín Torrijos Herrera was a Panamanian dictator, as well as the Commander of the Panamanian National Guard and military leader of Panama from 1968 to his death in 1981. Torrijos was never officially the president of Panama, but instead held self-imposed and all-encompassing titles including "Maximum Leader of the Panamanian Revolution". Torrijos took power in a coup d'état and instituted a number of social reforms.
Torrijos in 1978
Omar Torrijos (right) with farmers in the Panamanian countryside. The Torrijos government was well known for its policies of land redistribution.
President Carter shakes hands with General Torrijos of Panama after signing the Panama Canal Treaty.
Omar Torrijos Mausoleum in Amador, Panama City, in the former Canal Zone.
The Panama Defense Forces (Spanish: Fuerzas de Defensa de Panamá; FFDD) formerly the National Guard (of Panama) (Spanish: Guardia Nacional), were the armed forces of the Republic of Panama.
American Rangers during the attack on the Panama Defense Forces Command.
U.S. Army 5th Infantry Division (mechanized) soldiers inspecting a Soviet-made ZPU-4 which was abandoned by Panama Defense Forces.
Image: FN Hi Power
Image: Remington Rand M1911A1 revers (6825681426)
